The pediatrician, Dr. Lineus (Indonesians call Dr. with their first name so instead of Dr. Hewis we call him Dr. Lineus) really put my worries at ease by explaining it’s only normal for a toddler to pretty much lose interest in eating because they’re more into playing, playing, playing and exploring. He also asked about his last weight from the States, which was 26 pounds so his weight is kinda ‘stalled’ right now, again something normal for toddlerhood. Dr. Lineus explained that as long as he doesn’t lose any huge significant number of weights then we shouldn’t worry too much. Also, he’s still teething (3 more on tops) that could also makes his appetite hit rock bottom. The doctor suggested for me to keep experimenting with different variations of foods. Oh and one more thing, he said as long as he’s still drinking plenty of milk then he should be fine. Oh this boy surely loves his milk as he’ll come to the fridge himself and try to open it while saying “Susu” (Milk) LOL!

Dr. Lineus also said the same thing that Alexander’s last pediatrician in the States said “He’s going to be a tall boy.”

For other mommies out there, do you guys have any more tips & tricks to deal with such a picky eater? Pleaseee...

Since Alexander’s immunizations are already up-to-date, he doesn’t need any shots today. However, after a discussion with Dr. Lineus about our upcoming moving plan to China he asked if Alexander had had his flu shots. Unfortunately, we didn’t give him any of that in the States (which I now regretted!). He then explained that in China the flu virus is pretty lethal that’s why awhile ago they even shut down some schools because of flu epidemic. So we decided to give him his first shot today. He will need to get the second round of shot by early August.

I couldn’t take any pictures at the clinic like I planned to because we really didn’t have much time there plus somebody wasn’t too happy to get a shot on his thigh LOL.

Well this is just an update on Alexander’s routine well child visit. Hard to believe that our little boy is already 1.5 year old, he’ll be 2 in 6 months! OMG!

(Alex wearing Oom Reggy's dirty 'commute' sneakers LMAO!)

Yesterday I saw a report on one of the local TV morning news program. They’re interviewing people on the street about the usage of English language in their everyday lives and whether or not it affects their nationalism as we are celebrating the commemoration of Indonesia's national movement. The answers varied but I like one particular girl who responded by saying something like “You can’t judge one’s nationalism based on what language they frequently use.” That is so true!

Funny enough in the last few days before I saw that report I’ve been thinking about almost the same thing. I am pretty much well aware of how others’ stare when I speak in English to Alex whenever we went places. They might be thinking “Wait a minute, those other people with her speaks Indonesian but why does she speaks English to her son?” or something like that maybe even with a negative tendency.

What they don’t know is the unwritten agreement me and my husband had even before Alexander was born. I would be speaking to him in Bahasa Indonesia and he’ll take charge of the English side. Fair enough isn’t? It does works great although I have to admit sometimes English words does slipped out of my mouth simply because it’s easier to say like the word “No” or some other words that’s much shorter in English than in Indonesian. Considering that now we’re in Indonesia where he is pretty much surrounded with his mother’s language, I decided to speak English to him simply so he will not forget his other language. It got nothing to do with me not being Indonesian enough.

Based on what I read in plenty of early children development, bilingual (or even more than 2 languages) are better if it starts early in their lives, they will be more adapt to absorb it compare to an adult. Considering that, we won’t limit him to just Indonesian and English especially with a chance to live in Guangzhou, China. We are already planning to allow him learn some Chinese as well. Sounds too much? For my adult rusty brain it is but I’m sure he’ll get the hang of it in no time. I’m not discouraged with some facts that children raised in multi languages are often lag in speech ability as Alexander shows no signs of it so far, he’s like a tiny chatter box although sometimes he still use his ‘caveman language’ (borrowing his Daddy’s term LOL).

It’s pretty fascinating to witness him quickly absorb these two different languages and applies it little by little in his life. Here are some of the words he’s able to say in his 17 months of age:

English:

4 Open

4 Clos (Close)

4 Puppy (This is like his favorite word almost all animals are puppy to him)

4  Ducky

4  Pizz (Please)

4 Mommy

4 Dada (Daddy)

4 Nite nite (good night)

4 No

4 Yes

4 Wosit (who is it)

4 Bye bye

4 Shoes

4 Baa (Ball)

4 Hi

4 Blu (blue off of Blue’s Clues)

4 Clue (again learnt it from Blue’s Clues

4 A car

4 Plen (plane)

4 Tuk (truck)

4 Eyes

4 Fish

4 Nose

4 Two (if I start counting he’ll say 2 right after I say 1 LOL)

4 Nine (he’ll say it after I say 8)

4 Bubbes (bubbles)

4 Oh no

4 Uh-oh

4 Sowwy (sorry)

4 Bes yu (bless you, the cutest thing is if you sneeze he’ll say bless you right away LOL)

4 Go oside (go outside)

4 Juys (juice)

4 Tengku (thank you)

4 Mo (more)

4 I waf u too (I love you too, it’s hard to understand the 2^nd and 3^rd word but the too is so clear LOL)

4 Desis (delicious)

4 Cookies

4 Okay

4 Seki (sexy, now this is my brother’s teaching LOL!)

4 Broom-broom (he can’t say balloon so he’ll say broom-broom whenever he sees one)

4 Wuf-wuf (woof woof)

4 Banana

Indonesian:

4 Oom Danny (Oom = uncle, Danny is my brother’s name)

4 Apegi (Oom Egy = he can’t say my other brother’s name Reggy, LOL!)

4 Mati (Dead or if the light is turned off he’ll say mati)

4 Abis (over)

4 Mani (mandi = to take a bath)

4 Maam (makan = eat)

4 Oma (Oma = grandma)

4 Opa (Opa = grandpa)

4 Aban (Obat = medicine)

4 Makasi (Makasih = thank you)

4 Apa sih (What?)

4 Apa tu (apa tuh = what is that?)

4 Baka (Buka = open)

4 Tutup (tutup = close)

4 Lagi (lagi = more)

4 Enaa (enak = delicious)

4 Basa (basah = wet)

4 Patu (sepatu = shoes)

4 Ba (of Ciluk Ba = from peek-a-boo, he’ll say the boo part LOL)

4 Susu (susu = milk)

4 Jatu (jatuh = fall)

4 Pitu (pintu = door)

4 Jus (jus = juice)

4 Kaki (kaki = leg/foot)

4 Mata (mata = eyes)

4 Pala (kepala = head)

4 Itu (itu = that)

4 Ini (ini = this)

4 Bobo (bobo = sleep)

4 Adu (aduh = ouch)

4 Pas (panas = hot)

4 Dingi (dingin = cold)

4 Tate (tante = aunty)

4 Mana (mana = where)

I know at this stage his English words are more than his Indonesian words but he does understand if you talk to him in Indonesian he just can’t pronounce it yet. Like if you say “Alex mau jalan-jalan?” He’ll quickly said shoes LOL! Hmmm…time to get more practice for him LOL.

Ok, gotta go now, he’s already repeatedly saying “Buka the door!” while pointing at those screen door to the fish pond. LOL!